Objective To analyze the imaging characteristics of CT angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and risk factors of lower extremity arterial lesions in patients with diabetic foot (DF). Methods Fifty-seven patients with DF and lower extremity arterial lesions treated in our hospital between March 2014 and March 2016 were selected as study subjects. All patients underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA), CTA and MRA. With DSA as the golden standard, the diagnostic sensitivities, specificities and accuracy rates were compared between CTA and MRA. Another 50 patients with DF and without lower extremity arterial lesions confirmed in the same period were selected as the control group. The risk factors of lower extremity arterial lesions in patients with DF were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results The sensitivities and accuracy rates of CTA in the diagnosis of infrapopliteal artery and the overall condition (64.13%, 90.78% and 88.89%, 94.72%) were significantly lower than those of MRA (98.91%, 98.39% and 97.66%, 98.05%) (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the sensitivities, specificities and accuracy rates between CTA and MRA in the diagnosis of infrapopliteal artery (P>0.05); multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors of lower extremity arterial lesions in patients with DF included hypertension, body mass index (BMI) and postprandial 2h blood glucose (2hPG). Conclusion Both of CTA and MRA are of certain value in the diagnosis of lower extremity arterial lesions in patients with DF but the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of MRA are significantly higher. Meanwhile, the blood pressure, blood glucose and other indicators of patients need to be monitored to understand the occurrence and development of DF.